Folding table



J. C. PEWTHER.

FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT 15. 1920.

1,37 9,284. nted May 24, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

9 /LL QT QIIW z J P 17 uDsoNC. EWTHER.

c. PEWTHEIL FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT 15, I920.

L z w, 3 9 y m w 1 I Mm 1 n N a a m I- mm 1 3. a. .H J I m F m 5 M ff 97 9-. 3 Q i v Junscm CIPEWTHER JU'DSON C. PEWTHER, 01, DENVER, COLORADO,

romme TABLE.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented May 24, 1921.

Application filed September 15, 1920 Serial No. 410,507.'

useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of

which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying draw-.

in s.

%his invention relates to certain improvements in folding tables, and itis an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device ofthis general character which, when folded or compacted, can be used toadvantage as a rece tacle or case.

It is also an object of t e invention to provide a novel and improveddevice of this general character embodying two substantially duplicatesections connected for relative swinging movement which, when folded,provide a receptacle or case and which, when extended, constitute atable top, together with supporting legs operatively engaged with eachof the sections and which legs are readily foldable within the sections,said legs, when so folded, occupying a minimum of space. 7

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedstructure of this general character embodying swinging legs which, whenextended, are eflectively held or braced in such position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improveddevice of this general character embodying swinging legs foldable withrespect to the sections comprised within the body of the device,together with means whereby said legs, when in folded position, are heldagainst outward or extended movement.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved foldingtable whereby certain important advantages are attained and the devicerendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a folding table constructed inaccordance with an embodiment of my invention and in compacted form foruse as a receptacle or case.

Fig. 2 is a View in bottom plan of the device as herein disclosed withthe sections in open position and the supporting legs folded therein.

Fig. 3 is a view in bottom plan of my improved device with the sectionsin open position and the legs extended.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation, with portions broken away, of myimproved devicp in extended position for use as a table, an

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective illustrating in detail themeans herein employed for holding the le 5 against outward movement whenin ilded position with respect to its coacting section.

My improved device as herein disclosed comprises two substantiallyduplicate sections A. Each of the sections A includes a flat bodyportion 1 of requisite diameter and preferably oblong with its marginalportion defined by the inwardly directed anges 2. A pair of adjacentlongitudinal flanges 2 have their free margins hingedly connected onewith the other, as at 3, whereby the sections A are capable of relativeswinging movement, said hingedly connected flanges 2 abutting when thesections A are separated, whereby the body portions 1 of both of thesections provide a substantially flat top particularly adapted for useas a table.

When the sections A are at the limit of their outward swinging movement,the same are held against accidental inward movement through the mediumof the substantially U-shaped clip 4 adapted to straddle the hingedlyconnected flanges 2 and which clip is carried by an end portion of anelongated resilient armv 5 having its opposite end portion pivotallyengaged, as at 6, with the inner wall of the hingedl connected flange 2of one of the sections The arm 5 is resilient in order to permit theclip 4, when disengaged from the abutting flanges 2, to be positionedwithin one of the sections A, as indicated in Fig. 2, so that saidsections may be swung inwardly into closed position.

Each of the body portions 1 has secured to the inner face thereof at itscorners and to the adjacent end flanges 2 the angular brackets 7 each ofwhich is provided at a point in close proximity to the adjacent bodyportion 1 with a bearing 8 extendlng in a direction transversely of thebody portion 1.

Coacting with each end of a section A is a supporting leg L preferably\formed of a wire strand of requisite gage and possessing the necessarystifl'ness. The leg L closely simulates a V and the free end portionsthereof are provided with the inturned angular extremities 9 whichextend within a pair of transversely alined bearings 8. It

isto be particularly noted that the extremities 9 extend within thebearings 8 through the ends thereof in close proximity to the adjacentlongitudinal flanges 2 whereby accidental displacement of the leg L withrespect to the bearings 8 is substantially eliminated.

The apex portion 10 of each of the legs L is substantially straight anddisposed in a direction transversely to the coacting sections A.Encircling the straight portion 10 is a coiled sleeve 11 extendinglaterally from an end portion of a brace rod 12 and integrally formedtherewith. The rod 12 is of desired length and is provided at itsopposite end portion with an angularly directed extension 14 whichengages through an opening 15 formed in an inwardly directed portion 16of a plate 17 suitably anchored to an outer longitudinal flange 2 of asection A. The angular extension 14 is disposed through the opening 15of the coacting portion 16 when the leg L 'is extended into working orsupporting position and wherein the rod 12 holds said leg against inwardswinging movement.

When the device is to be folded or compacted, the legs L of each of thesections A readily swing inwardly thereof and are positioned in closeproximity to the body portion 1. As the leg L swings'inwardly of itscoacting section A, the outer strand 18 of said leg springs b theportion or wing 16 of the plate 17. V hen the legs L are at the limit oftheir inward or folding movement, the portion or wing 16 overlies saidouter strand 18 and thereby provides stops to normally hold said legsagainst outward swinging, movement, so that said legs will offer noundue obstruction to the interior of the section A.

To facilitate the passage of the outer strand 18 of each of the legs Lpast its coacting portion or wing 16, the same is pro vided with theupper and lower cam edges 11 and b. The desired passage of the strand 18beyond the wing or portion 16 is facilitated by the inherent resiliencypossessed by the strand 18.

The sections A are maintained or held in their folded relation by acatch 19 pivotally engaged with the outer longitudinal flange of one ofthe sections A and cone with theheaded stud or keeper20 carried y theadjacent flange 2 of the second section A. This flange 2 of the secondsection 1s also provided with the hand hold or grasp 21 preferablyflexible whereby the device may be readily transported when in itsfolded or compacted adjustment.

The brackets 7 carried by one of the sections A extend outwardly beyondthe adjacent flanges 2 so that when the sections A are compacted orfolded, said extended portions of these brackets 7 will overlap theinner faces of the end flanges 2 of the second section A, whereby themaintenance of said sections A in their closed or folded relation ismaterially facilitated. From the foregoing description it is thought tobe obvious that a folding table constructed in accordance with myinvention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of theconvenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated,and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of somechange and modification without departing from the principles and spiritthereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limitingmyself tothe precise arrangement and formation of the several partsherein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except ashereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising substantiallyduplicate sections,

, each of said sections embodying a flat body member having its marginalportion defined by inwardly directed flanges, the free marginal portionsof adjacent flanges of the sections being hingedly connected wherebysaid sections may be folded into closed relation or extended to bringthe body portions into substantially coplanar relation, a supporting legoperatively engaged with each end portion of each of the sections, saidsupporting leg being substantially V-shaped in form with its extremitiesangularly disposed, bearin carried by the coacting section to receivesaid angular extremities whereby the leg is capable of swinging movementwith respect to the section, a

brace member having one end portion pivotally engaged with the apexportion of the leg, and a wing extending inwardly from an outer flangeof the coacting section, the free end portion of the brace member andthe wing being provided with coacting means whereby the same may beconnected one to the other.

2. A device of the character described comprising substantiallyduplicate sections, each of said sections embodying a flat body memberhaving its marginal portion defined by inwardly directed flanges, thefree mar-' gmal portions of adjacent flanges of the sections beinghingedly connected whereby said sections may be folded into closedrelation or extended to bring the body portions into substantiallycoplanar relation, a supporting leg operatively engaged with each endportion of each of the sections, said supporting leg being substantiallyV- shaped in form, the section and extremities of the leg being providedwith coacting means whereby the leg is capable of swinging movement withrespect to the section, and a brace member having one end portionpivotally engaged with the apex portion of theleg, the opposite endportions of the brace member and the vidcd with coacting means wherebythe same may be connected one to the other.

3. A device of the character described comprising two hingedly connectedsections foldable into closed relation or extended to bring the sectionssubstantially into coplanar relation, a supporting leg operativelyengaged with each end portion of each of the sections, said supportingleg being substantially V-shaped in form and having swinging movementwith respect to the section, a brace member having one end portionpivotally engaged with the apex portion of section being prothe leg, andcoacting means carried by the brace member and the section whereby thesame may be connected one to the other.

4. A device of the character described comprising two hingedly connectedsections foldable into closed relation or extended to bring the sectionssubstantially into co planar relation, a supporting leg operativelyengaged with each end portion of each of the sections, said supportingleg being substantially V-shaped in form and having swingin movementwith respect to the Section, a brace member having one end portionpivotally engaged with the apex portion of the leg, and coacting meanscarried by the brace member and the section Whereby the same may beconnected one to the other, the pivotal connection between the bracemember and the apex portion of the leg comprising a sleeve carried bythe brace member and loosely surrounding the apex portion of the leg.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

J UDSON C. PEWTHER.

